ane@ane.com.au
Project Reference: 472
Document Title: Particulate Monitoring During Cellulose Fibre Insulation
Installation
Client: Environmentally Safe Natural Insulation - Matthew Hannan
and Peter Knipe
Document Reference: \\Server\ane-data1\472 Naturcell\Reports\472report.doc
Date Issued: 9 November, 2001
Prepared by: Claire Richardson
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Copyright:
Air Noise Environment retains ownership of the copyright to all reports, drawings,
designs, plans, figures and other work produced by Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd
during the course of fulfilling a commission. The client named on the cover of this
document shall have a licence to use such documents and materials for the purpose
of the subject commission provided they are reproduced in full or, alternatively, in part
with due acknowledgment to Air Noise Environment.
Third parties must not reproduce this document, in part or in full, without obtaining the
prior permission of Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd.
Disclaimer:
This document has been prepared with all due care and attention by professional
scientists and engineers according to accepted practices and techniques. This
document is issued in confidence and is relevant only to the issues pertinent to the
subject matter contained herein. Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd holds no
responsibility for misapplication or misinterpretation by third parties of the contents of
this document.
Where site inspections, testing or fieldwork have taken place, the report is based on
the information made available by the client or their nominees during the visit, visual
observations and any subsequent discussions with regulatory authorities. The validity
and comprehensiveness of supplied information has not been independently verified
and, for the purposes of this report, it is assumed that the information provided to Air
Noise Environment Pty Ltd is both complete and accurate. It is further assumed that
normal activities were being undertaken at the site during the site visit(s).
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 1
1.2 THIS REPORT 1
2 METHODOLOGY 2
2.1 TEST LOCATION 2
2.2 SAMPLING POSITIONS 2
2.3 SAMPLE PROGRAMME 2
2.4 MEASUREMENT METHOD 3
2.5 PARTICULATE FRACTIONS 3
3 RESULTS 4
3.1 SUMMARY OF SAMPLE PROGRAMME 4
3.2 REAL-TIME MONITORING RESULTS 4
3.3 GRAVIMETRIC SAMPLING RESULTS 5
4 CONCLUSIONS 7
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Natural Insulation Pty Ltd commissioned Air Noise Environment Pty Ltd to undertake
an assessment of particulate concentrations resulting from the installation of cellulose
fibre insulation.
The purpose of the monitoring was to confirm the accuracy of subjective observations
that the cellulose fibre becomes stable after a short time period and that emissions of
particles are negligible. In particular, the monitoring was to confirm whether
measurable increases in particulates occurred within the premises where the
insulation was being installed.
1.2 THIS REPORT
The report is structured as follows:
• Chapter 2: identifies the methodologies adopted;
• Chapter 3: presents the results and findings of the monitoring;
• Chapter 4: presents the conclusions of the assessment.
2 METHODOLOGY
2.1 TEST LOCATION
The test location selected was a typical residential premises located in an outer
suburb south of Brisbane. The house did not have thermal insulation installed in the
roof spaces prior to the cellulose fibre installation. The roof space utilised for the
testing was not used for storage or any other purposes that could affect the particulate
concentrations.
2.2 SAMPLING POSITIONS
In order to assess whether there was any increase in particulate concentrations with
in the house as a result of the installation of cellulose fibre, two test locations were
selected:
• Position 1: this position was located in a room directly adjacent to the roof access
hatch on the ground floor of the property. This position is representative of the
general living spaces within the property.
• Position 2: a second position was located in the roof space where the insulation
was to be installed. The purpose of sampling in this position was to provide an
indication of how quickly the cellulose fibre stabilised following installation.
2.3 SAMPLE PROGRAMME
Three sample periods were selected to provide sufficient information to determine the
influence of the cellulose fibre installation on particulate concentrations in the
residence:
Phase 1: Pre-existing concentrations prior to the installation (Positions 1 and 2).
Phase 2: Concentrations during the installation (Position 1).
Phase 3: Concentrations immediately following the installation (Positions 1 and 2)
Phase 4: Concentrations one week after the installation (Positions 1 and 2).
Concentrations were not measured at Position 2 during Phase 2 as this would have
caused difficulties with the installation process.
2.4 MEASUREMENT METHOD
Two sampling methods were utilised for the particulate measurements.
Firstly, a continuous real-time logger was used for on-going measurements during
phases 1 to 3 of the sample program. Although direct read instruments such as the
OSIRIS particulate monitor used in this assessment are not suitable for compliance
testing, they provide information about trends in particulate concentrations and
provide a coarse measure of the likely particulate concentrations. The technique uses
an indirect light reflectance method to estimate particulate mass concentrations.
The second measurement technique involved use of low volume air samplers (Minivol
air samplers) to draw air across pre-weighed filters. This gravimetric technique
provides results that are directly comparable to standards for assessment of
particulate concentrations.
The method is consistent with occupational exposure
measurement techniques and is an approved method for ambient air quality
measurements in the United States. The air flow adopted for the sampling periods
was 5 litres per minute.
2.5 PARTICULATE FRACTIONS
Particulate measurement involves either measurement of all particles that are
suspended in air or a sub-set based on size. The monitoring programme has
focussed upon measurement of total suspended particulates (TSP) however a series
of size fractions are also considered as part of the real time monitoring:
• PMlO: particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 microns or less.
• PM2,5: particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less.
• PM( particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 1 micron or less.
PMlO particles and smaller are thought to pose greatest health risk as they have the
potential to enter the human respiratory system.
3 RESULTS
3.1 SUMMARY OF SAMPLING PROGRAMME
Table 1 presents a summary of the sample program and measurement periods.
TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF SAMPLE PROGRAMME
Sample Phase
|
Sample Position |
Sampling Method |
Sample Start |
Sample End |
| 1 |
1
1
2 |
Real time
Gravimetric
Gravimetric |
6.00 am 25/10/01
9.20 pm 24/10/01
9.20 pm 24/10/01 |
10.00 pm 25/10/01
10:4O pm 25/10/01
9.20 pm 25/10/01 |
| 2 |
1 |
Real time |
6.00 am 26/10/01 |
11.30 am 26/10/01 |
| 3 |
1
1
2 |
Real time
Gravimetric
Gravimetric |
11.30 am 26/10/01
7.05 pm 26/10/01
7.08 pm 26/10/01 |
10.00 pm 28/10/01
8.25 pm 27/10/01
8.25 pm 27/10/01 |
| 4 |
1
2 |
Gravimetric
Gravimetric |
9.00 pm 2/11/01
9.00 pm 2/11/01 |
9.30 pm 3/11/01
9.30 pm 3/11/01 |
3.2 REAL-TIME MONITORING RESULTS
A time history of particulate concentrations is presented in Figures 1 and 2,
Appendix A. Figure 1 presents particulate concentrations during and following the
installation of the insulation. Figure 2 presents a time history of pre-existing
background on the day prior to the installation of the insulation.
Average TSP concentrations for each phase of the monitoring are presented in
Table 2.
The graphs presented in Appendix A confirm that there is no significant increase in
particulate concentrations either during or after the installation of the cellulose fibre.
This conclusion is supported by the average concentration data presented in Table 2.
The measured short-term increases in concentrations that are identified on Figures 1
and 2 are associated with normal residential activities such as vacuuming and, on one
occasion, with use of an aerosol pesticide spray. It should be noted that the real time
optical instrument responds to all types of aerosol whether solid or liquid, hence the
sprayed liquid has a significant impact on the measured concentrations. It is this
reaction to liquid aerosols that renders the technique valid as a screening approach
only. Thus, the results from this type of monitoring are useful to provide an indication
of overall change in concentrations as opposed to absolute particulate concentrations.
TABLE 2: REAL TIME SAMPLING· AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS (Ilg m")
| Sample Phase |
Sample Position |
Average TSP |
Maximum TSP |
Notes |
| 1 |
1 |
89 |
140 |
|
| 2 |
1 |
61 |
104 |
|
| 3 |
1 |
43
94
62 |
95
708
208 |
26/10/01
27/10/01
28/10/01 |
TABLE 3: GRAVIMETRIC SAMPLING - AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS (1l9 m-3)
| Sample Phase |
Sample Position |
Average TSP |
Notes |
| 1 |
1
2 |
21
10 |
In house
In roofspace |
| 3 |
1
2 |
9
1 |
In house
In roofspace |
| 4 |
1
2 |
16
12 |
In house
In roofspace |
The average concentrations presented in Table 3 are significantly lower than those
presented in Table 2 for the real time sampling method. As noted earlier, the
concentrations measured using the optical measurement technique can be affected
by liquid aerosols and this is likely to account for the differences noted in average
concentrations.
The data presented in Table 3 represent a more accurate dataset collected using an
acceptable gravimetric technique and hence these data are suitable for comparing to
health risk criteria.
In Queensland, the Environmental Protection Agency specifies an Air Quality Goal for
Total Suspended Particulates of 90 f.!g m-3 as an annual average (Environmental
Protection Policy (Air) 1997). A short term concentration of 150 f.!g m-3 for PM10 over
a 24-hour period is recommended in this policy.
The data presented in Table 3 are for approximately 24-hour periods. Assuming that
all of the TSP is in the PM10 size fraction gives a worst case comparison to an
ambient air quality goal for particulates. This comparison confirms that the measured
concentrations are well within the relevant air quality goals for TSP (90 f.!gm-3 annual
average) and for PM10 (150 f.!g m-3 24-hour average) even assuming that all of the
TSP falls within the PM10 size fraction.
In terms of trends, it is interesting that the concentrations presented in Table 3 for
Phase 2 (ie, immediately following the cellulose fibre installation) are lower that the
Phase 1 and 3 concentrations. This decrease is likely to be attributable to the heavy
rain that was experienced for much of this sampling period. Rain can remove
suspended particulates from the atmosphere hence reducing concentrations in
outside air. This in turn would influence the air within the house and roof space due to
normal air exchange mechanisms. As the gravimetric samples measure only solid
mass, they are not affected by humidity or moisture droplets hence show an overall
decrease during this period.
Similarly, the concentrations within the roof space for all three sample phases are
lower for the roof space than the house. This is likely to be attributable to the fact that
normal domestic activities, including movements of occupants and pets, has the
potential to cause dust emissions and recirculation.
4 CONCLUSIONS
Overall, it is concluded from the sampling undertaken that the installation of cellulose
fibre in a residential premises does not increase ambient particulate concentrations
either during or after the installation.
Particulate measurements in the roof space confirm that even in the environment
where the cellulose fibre is installed, within a period of less than 7 days the cellulose
fibre has stabilised to the extent that there is no significant increase above preexisting
background particulate concentrations.
Throughout the measurements, the gravimetric sampling results both within the house
and in the roof space demonstrate compliance with the Queensland Air Quality goals
for particulates.
APPENDIX A
REAL TIME MONITORING RESULTS
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